WCCO Can Keep Its License

The FCC said no to a petition to deny license renewal of WCCO in Minneapolis.

James Pennino filed in 2005 saying the big CBS AM station’s license should not be renewed because of “lack of in-depth coverage of environmental issues on WCCO news.”

The commission wrote, as it has in numerous similar cases, that its role in overseeing program content is limited.

“The First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 326 of the [Telecommunications] Act prohibit the commission from censoring program material or interfering with broadcasters’ free speech rights.”

The Audio Division of the Media Bureau said Pennino did not demonstrate that WCCO had abused its discretion as a licensee.